Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-16
CURIOUS ROYAL pRoCLAMAT1oNs.

CURIOUS ROYAL PROCLAMATIGNS.
Power of tl,e Etlicts of English Rulers and
for What They Were Issued.
[London Tit Bits.l
Royal edicts or proclamations have
never yet in England been armed with
the force of tho law; indeed, the procla-
nation of a British monarch may even
become an illegal act, if it be in opposi.
ton to the laws of the land. Several
times during the course Of English
history-and notably during the reigns
of Henry VIII. and James ]. ---attempts
have been made to give to royal pro-
plantations the force of acts Of Parlia-
ment; but they have always failed, as be-
ing altogether opposed to the first princi-
pies Of representative government.
Had it been otherwise, the whole course
of English history might have been
| changed, as will be seen from the fol-
lowing examples of the more curious
and remarkable of these royal edicts:
King Henry Will, toward the close of
his reign, issued proclamation to
abolish the translations Of the Script
ures and to prohibit the reading of the
Bibles to the people. Another edict
by the same monarch forbadethe circu-
lation in this country of English books
and pamphlets printed abroad: the
reason why such publications were
printed abroad" being that the press
at home was gagged.
Queen Mary issued q proclamation
which throws curious light upon the
antipathy which prevailed in England
at that time against all foreigners Of
whatever kind or degree. The edict
commands all the Queens subjects to
behave themselves peaceable toward
the strangers coming with King Philip:
that noblemen and gentlemen should
warn their servants to refrai, from
"strife and contention, either oy out
ward deeds, haunting words, ulseemly
countenance, by milnicking than. etc. Z"
Queen Elizabeth issued scathing
proclamation against the excess and
vanity Of apparel, both anon, the men
and women of her reign.
King James I. was volumnous edict
writer and their frequency considerably
lessened their effect. Moe than one
solemnly warned the people against
Speaking too freely of matters above
their reach" and prohibiting all Gun
dutiful speeches"
King Charles l. by royal ,dict changed
the seasons for his "sacret touch" (for
the kings eviD from Whitsuntide to
AIichaelmas, "as more convenient for
the temperature of the season." An
other proclamation by The same mon
arch was directed to the suppression
of cursing and swearing"
1t is amusing to notice the proclama-
tions of Charles IT,, issued during the
most licentious period of the Court of
the "Merrie Monarch" One was against
vicious, debauched, AMI profane per-
sons, )" who are thus described =
"a sort of men of whom we have
heard much and are sufficiently
ashamed; who spend their time in tav-
ems and tippling louses; giving no
other evidence of their affection to us
but in drinking our health and inveigh-
ing against all others who are not OF
their own dissolute temper, and who,
in truth, have more discredited ou1
cause by the license of their manners
and lives than they could ever advance
it by their affection or courage"
The "Merrie Monarch" also issued q
long and solemn proclamation for the
due observance Of Lent, alleging for
it, among other reasons, "the good it
produces in the employment OF fisher
men," In other proclamations he
strongly denounced the excessive "gild-
ing of coaches and chariots," the spread
ing of "false news" the "licentious
talking of state and government" and
against building in and about London
and Westminster. On the last-named
grievance the royal edict declares that
great Inconvenience daily grow by
the increase of new buildings, the
people increasing in such great numbers
that they are not we'll to be governed
by the wonted officers" The King
adds the hope that if houses are to be
multiplied they should at any rate be
built of brick OF stone and not of timber,
not only as precaution against fire,
but also as involving little if any more
| cost